High School Musical

So, I saw Duran Duran this past Saturday at the Santa Barbara Bowl. I last saw them in 1984, 4th row seats at the Worcester Centrum Centrum Centrum! They were great--they looked great and they played great, although I am no longer attracted to their hottie bassist John Taylor! Listening to their music, especially "Hungry Like the Wolf", "Girls on Film", "Planet Earth", and "Save a Prayer", brought back not just a whole bunch of memories (thanks Mom, Noelle & Heather for going with me, sorry about the hearing loss Mom!), but also a whole bunch of feelings, feelings that had echoes of the age of 16--feelings of longing, and of wondering what's ahead in life. Fractal patterns that go round and round; it was almost like orbiting around my old 16 year old self...or maybe it was my old 16 year old self orbiting around present day me?

In other news along the high school musical theme, Tania has been continuing her theater career, and a review of the play that she is currently in can be found here: http://http//www.independent.com/news/2008/may/08/emomnium-gatherumem-presented-santa-barbara-city-c/

It's a great play and she does an amazing job--tickets have been sold out for weeks and by the time this all wraps up she will have performed it for packed theaters over 16 times!

The Four Agreements

The book "The Four Agreements" by Don Luis Miguel, is something I picked up a couple of years ago. I also got a deck of agreement cards too. For the past week, in an effort to seek greater wisdom in the paths of my life, I've been picking a card in the morning, and one at night. My first one from last week: Don't Take Anything Personally: Relinquish Self Importance. Personal importance, or taking things personally, is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about "me".

The Four Agreements are:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.